Innehållsförteckning för May/June 2025 från Car and Driver

Of the models in Cupra’s current lineup, the Terramar SUV and the Tavascan EV are best suited for the U.S. market. The brand assembles the former alongside the Audi Q3 in Györ, Hungary. Like the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan built in Puebla, Mexico, the approximately $46,000 Terramar employs the VW Group’s MQB Evo underpinnings. A trio of turbo four-cylinder powertrains is available, one of which is a plug-in hybrid. The roughly $55,000 Tavascan shares its MEB platform with the Volkswagen ID.4 built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is available in 282-hp single-motor and 335-hp dual-motor forms. If Cupra builds a new larger SUV in North America, it could potentially use the PPC platform of the latest Puebla-built Audi Q5 or the MQB Evo platform expected to underpin the next-gen version of the…

AUDI RS7 PERFORMANCE Highs: Effortless hustle, hatchback versatility, svelte inside and out. Lows: Touchy brakes, park-bench seat discomfort, brittle at low speeds. Verdict: An all-wheel-drive motorpsycho dream. CADILLAC CT5-V BLACKWING WITH PRECISION PACKAGE Highs: Brilliant handling, V-8 sound we never tire of, solid value. Lows: Chugs like a frat boy, least comfortable back seat, gets loose everywhere. Verdict: Classics endure for a reason. BMW M5 Highs: Physics-defying speed, added e-motivation, no concessions to economy. Lows: Overwhelming looks, overwhelming tech, overwhelming mass. Verdict: Heralds of the future don’t necessarily earn the warmest welcome. IN 1966, AT THE FREE TRADE HALL in Manchester, England, Bob Dylan played a two-set show. He started with his older folk tunes, on which he’d first risen to fame, and the reception was warm. Set two, however,…

When the Toyota 4Runner debuted in 1984, the term “sport-utility vehicle” was new enough that it needed spelling out. The 4Runner played a large part in bringing SUVs to the mainstream. While the mid-size ute developed a more highway-friendly attitude over its four decades and six generations, it has maintained off-road credibility with four-wheel drive, body-on-frame construction, and ample ground clearance. There aren’t many vehicles that look as comfortable in a Whole Foods parking lot as they do traversing Devil’s Peak in Baja California, but the 4Runner is one of them. First Generation (1984–89) Little more than a Toyota Hilux pickup with an optional rear bench seat, a removable fiberglass bed cap, and a roll-down rear window, the original 4Runner blended trucklike utility with a pinch of commuter sensibility. With…

Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance HIGHS: Great performance, satisfying chassis, ritzy interior. LOWS: Slurred throttle response, small trunk, big price. SPEND SOME TIME in America’s high-dollar zip codes, and you’ll see plenty of Mercedes vehicles sporting AMG badges. Some are genuine AMG models; others are cosplaying with the AMG appearance package. Aside from a few hard acceleration runs, the full-on AMGs probably lead sedate lives. AMG buyers are likely more interested in getting a loaded Mercedes with the highest number on the trunk than experiencing the performance potential of their cars. Luxury automakers happily encourage this thinking. As cynical as this may sound, there is no doubt that the full-on AMG models, such as the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance, deliver genuine speed and thrills. In this case, that starts with 791…

THE TERM “FLAGSHIP” usually conjures images of an elegant sedan or a fetching two-seat roadster. But things are a bit different over at Mitsubishi. The Japanese automaker considers its flagship to be the Outlander, a compact SUV that competes in the most mainstream segment there is. The Outlander is also Mitsubishi’s bestseller, which explains why the company is boasting about all the small changes that add up to a mid-cycle refresh. Last redesigned for 2022, the Outlander looks decent inside and out. It offers a relatively advanced plug-in-hybrid powertrain with more electric range than many rivals, but the base engine is an aging Nissan four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The update includes revised styling, additional standard features, suspension tweaks, more sound deadening, and new audio systems by…

MILES: 26,255 OBSERVED MPG: 33 “The Maverick is the vehicle America needs,” declares managing news editor Eric Stafford. Clearly, our long-term Ford Maverick XLT hybrid is well liked around Car and Driver’s headquarters. You’ll find it with mountain bikes draped over its tailgate, a motocross bike strapped in its bed, or a back end full of junk destined for the dump. Sometimes it’s just living its life as a daily commuter. It’s also spurred us to take up a new hobby. Unique to the Maverick are the Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) attachment points. The internet is replete with 3-Dprintable files for filling these FITS cleats with cupholders, trash cans, storage dividers, device holders, and more. We are now 3-Dprinting enthusiasts. Our first project was a drawer with a FITS…

SCREAMING PAST INFLATION The battle against ever-tightening emissions regulations is one that Porsche engineers are keen to win. To that end, the 4.0-liter flat-six in the 2025 (992.2) 911 GT3 delivers the same 502 horsepower and 9000-rpm redline as before, offsetting the exhaust’s two additional catalysts with angrier powertrain parts, including throttle bodies and camshafts from the GT3 RS. Torque is down 15 pound-feet, but the final-drive gearing is shorter to compensate. With a host of chassis upgrades, some borrowed from the RS, the latest GT3 is as delightful to drive as its predecessor. The steering is nearly flawless, and the chassis remains griptastic, but daily users will appreciate the extra suspension travel afforded by smaller bump stops. Kids will appreciate that the Touring model now has a rear-seat option.…

PRETEND FOR A MOMENT you’re testing a 668-hp Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing with a full 17.4-gallon tank of gas. As you do more and more acceleration runs, fuel burns off, making the car lighter and thus slightly quicker. An EV, however, doesn’t lose weight as it consumes energy. Electric cars’ acceleration times increase as the battery’s state of charge (SOC) drops. But some OEMs are better than others at managing this performance slip, so we decided to take three EVs to the track and clock their 60-mph times with a fully charged pack, with 10 percent charge, and at several increments in between. The acceleration degradation we measured isn’t necessarily representative of all EVs, but it provides a good picture of how 60-mph times increase as the battery discharges. The test…

THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS IMMORTAL, BOTH AGED AND AGELESS, an omnipresent towering riposte to the notion that building sport-utility vehicles the way cars are built is the logical solution to the world’s SUV needs. The 4Runner is tall and ungainly. It is inefficient in packaging and fuel economy, not quick, and expensive for its size. Toyota can’t build enough of them. At least, that’s always been the case. We expect that the new 2025 4Runner will continue the hot streak established by its venerable predecessor, which enjoyed a 15-year production run even though it was basically made of bronze and granite, or maybe because of that. The latest 4Runner is considerably revamped, even though it doesn’t look radically different to the casual observer. Employing the same TNGA-F platform that underpins…

Porsche 718 Spyder RS HIGHS: Howls like a werewolf, light as a soufflé, somehow still comfortable. LOWS: No manual available, nose lift is a must, enrichment doesn’t come cheap. ANIMALS IN THE ZOO get bored. Their instincts grow dull, and the sparkle leaves their eyes. So, zookeepers have enrichment programs: exercises and puzzles to sharpen skills and claws. If you’ve been feeling like a captive tiger in the cage of your boring daily driver, Porsche’s 718 Spyder RS is enrichment for humans. Everything about it, from revving its scintillating flat-six to its 9000-rpm redline to snapping its clever manual top into place, reinvigorates your spirit. The bears and elephants will be jealous. The Spyder elicits human envy too, because even though it sounds ferocious and shares DNA with track monsters…

YOUR AVERAGE 48-volt hybrid isn’t very aspirational. These systems are limited in scope, meant to extend stop-start use and allow for some occasional engine-off coasting. But the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA-class aims to blur the lines between 48-volt so-called mild hybrids and more traditional hybrids. The CLA’s powertrain arrangement starts with a new gas engine. The M252 is a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four running the more efficient Miller cycle, which closes the intake valves early to reduce losses and increase efficiency. Mercedes mates the M252 to a 27-hp electric motor, which, along with the inverter, is integrated inside the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A small lithium-ion battery stores the juice. Final specs aren’t out yet, but Mercedes says the CLA hybrid will make a combined 188 horsepower. How is this different from 48-volt…

Nissan Armada Pro-4X HIGHS: Plenty quick, spacious and quiet cabin, better ride quality than the larger-wheel variants. LOWS: Indecisive transmission, steering feels artificial, engine clatter at idle. TO BE A LEGITIMATE PLAYER in the full-size-SUV game, you need an off-road trim level. That’s something Nissan’s Armada previously didn’t have. But now the company is giving the all-new body-on-frame Armada the Pro-4X treatment to contend with the competition’s mudslinging rigs. The hulking Armada Pro-4X has major curb presence. At a towering 80.1 inches with the standard air springs at full mast, it’s nearly as tall as Shaquille O’Neal. Its chiseled fascia, burnished with Lava Red recovery hooks seemingly ready to pull a freighter out of Lake Superior, affords it an approach angle of 33.0 degrees. A break-over angle of 25.5 degrees,…

MILES: 3737 OBSERVED MPG: 14 We’re starting to feel like shepherds. This 1500 Big Horn is the sixth Ram 1500 to undergo our long-term test after the recent cushy Limited and the unhinged TRX. So long as the Ram keeps collecting 10Best wins (seven and counting), we’ll keep inviting it back. The biggest change this time is the available straight-six engine that steps in for the previous V-8. The new Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six ($2695) makes 420 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque. We also opted for the Big Horn trim with six seats to match its six cylinders because we liked that symmetry. Between hauling race cars to track days, towing snowmobiles to Michigan’s frigid Upper Peninsula, and carrying a seemingly endless parade of big-screen TVs from big-box stores,…

WE LOVE SPORTS SEDANS, and the E39-generation BMW M5, including the 2001 model seen here, is one of the all-time greats—a legendary four-door gifted with an outstanding balance of ride and handling, fluid controls, a six-speed manual, and a rev-happy 394-hp 4.9-liter V-8. While German manufacturers have historically excelled at blending performance with sedan practicality and a good deal of refinement, standout examples in this segment have come from every corner of the world. The models listed below are some of our favorite three-box four-doors that we’ve tested over the years. *MANUFACTURER CLAIM †C/D ESTIMATE ‡TIMES ADHERE TO OUR OLD ROLLOUT RULE OF 3MPH **MPGe KNOW YOUR TERMS Sedans are four-door cars with a three-box design, indicating separate compartments for the engine, cabin, and trunk (see right). The name “sedan”…

PAUL OZ’S TEACHERS said he was no good at art, so he studied engineering instead. But he kept painting as a hobby, and in 2008, at almost 30 years old, Oz finally started showing his work publicly. Shortly thereafter, his lively canvases celebrating Formula 1 cars and drivers caught the attention of F1 teams. Not content to limit his talents to two dimensions, Oz began working in sculpture in 2012. Using traditional foundry techniques, as well as 3-D scanning and printing technology, Oz creates realistic sculptures in bronze, such as Senna “Eau Rouge,” the statue of Ayrton Senna he debuted in 2019. Recently, Oz used magnesium sourced from the wheels of McLaren’s F1 cars to cast Senna “La Rascasse” (below). Here’s how. MAKING THE MOLD Donning a replica of a…

HEMINGWAY DIDN’T WRITE the world’s saddest short story, although he’s often credited with it. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” I can see pathos in the tale, but I don’t think it has to read as sad. It’s possible the baby just had big feet and the shoes didn’t fit. Maybe the in-laws bought the shoes and they have terrible taste. There are all kinds of reasons why new parents might have an excess of infant footwear. Babies don’t even really need shoes. If you want a poignant sentence, try “At auction: sports car, low miles.” I’m tearing up just thinking about it. Is there anything sadder than a good car, undriven? I don’t mean everything needs to come to the auction block with wornsmooth pedals and a rolled-over odometer.…

Scan the QR code or go to caranddriver.com/reviews for more of our new-vehicle evaluations. Speak Softly and Carry a Big Six Ram 1500 RHO HIGHS: Costs less than a TRX, quiet and smooth highway manners, shares the TRX’s love of getting dirty. LOWS: Negligible fuel-economy gains, slower than the TRX, former chest-beating exhaust roar now a purr. VERDICT: A balanced package with bona fide off-road chops yet still destined to live in the shadow of a legend. HIGH-PERFORMANCE off-road pickups aren’t exactly known for discretion. Intimidation comes naturally to these inexplicably lovable brutes. Take, for instance, the departed Ram 1500 TRX. The direct predecessor of the truck you see here, the 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, the TRX had a brazen stance and a 702-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 with a roid-ravaged…

APTERA HAS HAD a tumultuous existence. The California startup emerged in 2006 but fizzled out in 2011. Revived in 2019, the company aims to start production of its EV by the end of this year, largely through crowdfunding. Classified as an autocycle or a motorcycle, depending on the state where it’s registered, this three-wheeled vehicle has the potential to shake up the EV world. That is, if Aptera’s claims prove true. The teardrop shape creates a claimed drag coefficient of 0.13. A carbon-fiber, two-seat body atop an aluminum chassis affords a stated curb weight of 2200 pounds. The combination of slippery aero-dynamics and lightweight design means the puny 42.0-kWh battery pack manages to provide a claimed 400 miles of range. But the Aptera’s true party trick is the solar panels covering…

TODAY’S MASERATI IS OFTEN thought of more as a luxury brand, but for many years it built dedicated race cars, competing successfully in Formula 1 in the 1950s and carrying Juan Manuel Fangio to notable wins. Maserati’s rivalry with Enzo Ferrari set up the first act of Michael Mann’s Ferrari. And the 111-year-old automaker continues to dabble in motorsports, building and selling race cars based on the MC20 for the GT2 European Series. To celebrate this endeavor, Maserati is offering the roadgoing GT2 Stradale based on the MC20. Limited to 914 examples worldwide, the Stradale applies some elements of the race car, but most of the bits carry over from the MC20, including the carbon-fiber tub, the aluminum subframes (front and rear), the suspension arms, and the eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle.…

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 MILES: 28,711 OBSERVED MPGe: 90 Lazarus seems like a good nickname for our long-term Hyundai Ioniq 5, though even he didn’t rise from the dead twice. On two separate occasions within the past few months, our Ioniq 5 lost all power to its 12-volt electrical system, effectively bricking the car each time and, in the most recent instance, requiring a flatbed trip to the dealer’s service department. There, two related technical service bulletins were addressed. The first involved the low-voltage limp-home mode and the speeds at which the car can drive with it engaged. A simple software update resolved the issue. The other was a bit more involved. It concerned a control unit that oversees charging the vehicle’s 12-volt system. Certain conditions may cause this control…

MILES: 4706 OBSERVED MPG: The Porsche Macan has received our 10Best award eight times, yet we’ve never subjected one to a long-term trial. That’s how the pitch for a 40,000-mile test of a 2024 Macan T began. Porsche said yes, so we asked for more: to take delivery at Porsche’s Experience Center in Leipzig, Germany. When Porsche said yes to that too, we submitted our order. If you are willing to wait and want to spec a car like we did, you can get a color like Copper Ruby Metallic ($700 for 2024 but a significantly pricier $2480 for 2025) and pair it with 20-inch bronze-painted wheels (not shown) for an additional $1440. The T adds adaptive dampers and the Sport Chrono package, which bestows launch control. It also comes…

IN THE LATE ’80s, David E. Davis Jr. and I drove a Range Rover through the Anza-Borrego Desert, hoping Anza might be the name of a Spanish beauty. As we crested a dune capable of swallowing Larry Bird, the A/C disgorged its refrigerant into the arid air. “I wouldn’t drive this thing out here without a chase car,” I commented. But Davis adored all things British, including the tweed hunting cape and Turnbull & Asser shirts he’d packed for the trip. Replied he, “Oh, shut up. If the Rover dies, we just call Bill Baker.” Baker being Rover’s beloved PR purveyor of tectonic spin. My point? Auto journalists don’t have to fix, patch, or tow test cars that are notoriously in want of fixing, patching, and towing. Fact is, I have…